Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against a classical swine fever virus (CSFV;
subgenogroup 1:1) isolate from Assam,
India
were produced and characterized. Four fusions of myeloma cells (SP2/0Ag) were
made with spleenocytes of 8-10 weeks old BALB/C mice immunized with the viral
antigen. Several hybridoma clones secreting antibodies to the virus were
obtained after four fusions, but five hybridoma clones secreting antibody
specific to the virus could be stabilized. All the mAbs belong to the IgG2a
isotype. Except one, none of the four mAbs showed cross reaction with bovine
viral diarrhoea virus and border disease virus (BDV). One mAb showed cross
reaction with BDV. All the four mAbs specific to CSFV showed reactivity with
the parental virus in immunoperoxidase test (IPT) and with a single protein
band (molecular weight 55 kD approximately) of the virus in western blotting.
In neutralization peroxidase linked assay (NPLA) all the mAbs reacted with 13
CSFV local isolates as well as with the cell culture adapted lapinized vaccine
virus strain belonging to the subgenogroup 1:1. This is the first report on
production and characterization of mAbs against CSFV in India.